Process of treating saccharides



may as, 1924n mgzs C. C. FOWLER f Paccss oF TREATING SAGCHARIDES Fixed may 31. 192i 63475' T557" waff .5/

HYD/FOO/V RECEIVING VAT iwf/ 275% CHESTER C. Pow/LER Tatented May 13, 1924.

CHESTER C. FOWLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CANDY COM- PANY, OF ST. LOUIS, M[SS('.!'0']3.1Ie A COBPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

JPROCESS OF TREATING SACCERIDES.'

Application mea may a1, 1921." serial no. 473,783.

connected by a belt 21 to the pulley 22 of To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHESTER C. FOWLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook County, lllinois,f have invented a new and a useful Process of Treating Saccharides, of whichthe .following isa specification.

This invention relates to a process of treating saccharides, especially cane sugar, corn syrup and the like, and has for its object to improve the taste and odor of the substance. Generally speaking, the process consists in subjecting the substance in the form of a solution to the action of hydrogen and a catalyzer in the presence d heat, and, preferably, also of a moderate degree of pressure. Tn treating corn syrup or similar Syrups the process increases the sweetness without otherwise producing a greatly marked result. In treating cane sugar, however, the result is marked, for not only is the sweetness increased, but the flavor and odor also are improved. The product acquires a sweetness which is characteristic and pleasant. and somewhat resembling a maple davor.

To explain the process in greater detail, attention is called to the accompanying drawing which represents, to a certain extent in a diagrammatic manner, apparatus by which my process may be advantageously carried out.

Tn this apparatus a mixing kettle 1 is provided having a steam chamber 3 at the bottom for keeping the contents heated during the mixing process. Steam is supplied toI this chamber from a supply pipe 5 and branch 6. A drain cock 8 is provided at the bottom of the chamber through which i the condensed steam may be drawn oi from time to time. The mixing chamber may be filled through the top and the contents may be drawn oi from the bottom either through a drain pipe 10 having a valve 11,

'45 or through a pipe 55 hereinafter described.

The steam line 5 also has a branch 12 which leads to a chamber 14 formed in the bottom of the treating chamber or autoclave 16. This autoclave, which .for convenience is usually referred tol as a tank is provided with a rotary paddle or other agitating mechanism 18, driven by a shaft 19 passin up through the bottom of the tank an 3driven by any suitable power device. Tn the present case shaft 19 has a pulley 20 an electric motor 23. A drain cock 15 is provided through which the condensation may -be drawn oli.' from chamber 14. K

At the top the tank has `a dome 30 provided with a cover 31 clamped down by a screw 32 working in a yoke 33 and having a lever or hand wheel 34 by which the cover may be tightly closed. Leading out of the tank from the dome 30 .is a vacuum line 40 by which the gaseous contents of the tank may be removed. This line is provided with a suitable shutoff valve 41. By preference the vacuum line 40 leads to some place outside of the building, as it is apt to convey at times `a certain amount -of hydrogen which is highly inflammablein the air and consequently should be promptly dissipated. It is `desirable to provide the tank with a thermometer 45, pressure gauge 46 and safety valve 47. In order that the gas within the tank may be tested, it is de-` sirable to provide a gas test outlet 50 con trolled by a shut-0H:a valve 51.

of the mixing.

Connected to the outlet 10 kettle 1 is a pipe 55 which communicates with the bottom of tank 16 to aord ready means by which the contents of thekettle may beu transferred to the tank after the preliminary mixing action is complete. The flow through pipe 55fis controlled by a shuto valve 58. The hydrogen used during the process is supplied from any suitable source, for example, the tube 60 which has a hydrogen line 62 leading from it to a pipe 64 which communicates with the inside of tank 16, the result being that when the line is open the hydrogen may flow from the tube into the tank. It is desirable to provide the hydrogen tube with a pressure gauge 67 and suitable control valves 68, 69 and 70, and a drain 72. Pipe 64 also aords means for conveying the treated syrup to a filter press 76 through a pipe line 78 furnished with a valve 80 and a pressure pump 82. Said pump is driven by any suitable means, for example, a belt 84 driving a pulley 85 fastened to `the pump' shaft 86.

Thefiltered solution passes from the filter into a suitable receiving tank 90. As filter presses are well known, detailed description is unnecessary.

T will now describe a typical example as to hcw the process may be practiced, especially as relating to cane sugar:

' to as- I- within .the tank. The charged, steam `is turnedV .45

I rst produce in the mixing kettle 1, -a mixture of sugar, water and a catalyzer. v A

suitable catalyzer is catalytic nickel or' Valve 41 is then opened, which produces a partial vacuum in the tank and causes the contents of the kettle to flow through pipe into the tank. The valve 58 is then closed. The next step is to substitute for an atmosphere of air in the autoclave tank an atmosphere of hydrogen. This is done by evacuating the air by opening valve 41 in the vacuum line and withdrawing the air at a degree as practicable. Valve 4l is t en closed and the valves 68, 69 `and 70 opened so as to permit hydrogen from' tube tovflow into the autoclave tank. A small amount of gas is allowed to flow out of the gas test outlet 50, and is tested to determine whether any appreciable amount of air remains in the autoclave tank. When the air has been excluded, valve 51 is closed,

and the hydrogen pressure is allowed to increase to the desired degree. Judging from many tests I believe that the degree of pres- .sure of the hydrogen within the tank is not importance although I usuallypractice the process with a gauge pressure of about 60 pounds.

When the proper amount of hydrogen has flowed into the vtank the valves 68 and 70 are closed, thus confiningV the hydrogen tank now bemg on into chamber 14 from the steam line 5, 12 and the meof great, if of any,

chanical mixing' element 18 is 'started rotating.l It will beobserved that the solution within thetank is now vsubjected to the actionof heat and mechanical mixing'in the presence of hydrogen Aand a catalyzer,

. and a moderate degree of pressure, although v seems 'to be an immaterial factor.

as I have stated, the degree of pressure These conditions are maintained for a considerableperiod The optimum change seems .to

'which consists in .mixing with' a faeeaeaa take place at from 220 to 230 de ees Fab renheit when the contents are su jected to about 60'pounds pressure for a about four hours. Under these conditions the boiling point of the mixture is not reached. A longer duration, for example, 6 to 8 hours reduces little if any additional change. Be ow a temperature of 220 degrees the change Ygoes on more slowly, and the characteristic pro erties are not as strongly developed. I the temperature is maintalned for any considerable time above 230 degrees a certain amount of caramelizationl is apt to result.

After the solution has thus been treated in the tank itis removed and ltered. This may be done with the illustrated apparatus `by opening the valve 80 and starting the pump 82 and thus forcing the solution through the lter press 76 and out into the receiving tank 90.

As above stated, the product resulting from this process has a characteristic pleas' ant taste and odor. Furthermore, the sweetness is increased, and the taste somewhat resembles that of maple syrup. f

Corn syrup may be treated in a similar manner, although the characteristics of the resulting product are not so pronounced, the chief observable change being an increased sweetness.

period of Having 'thus described my invention, f

what I claim as new Letters Patent is:

1. TheV process of treating saccharides and desire to secure by which consistsof mixing the substance with water and-nickel in proper form to serve as a catalyzer, agitating the solution in the presence of hydrogen under pressureV and at the same time heating it to a temperature ranging between 220 and 230 F. with exclusion of air for a period of approximately four hours.

2. The process ofi treating cane sugar given amount 'of su r about'half its weight of watersand nic el in proper form to serve as a cataIyZer; heating and agitating the solution in the. presence of hydrogen under pressure with exclusion of air, and filtering the resulting solution to remove the catalyzer.

lIn'witness whereof, I have hereunto sub.

scribed my name.

` CHESTER C. FOWLER.

ico 

